Vacuum fuel-feed apparatus



Patented Feb. 19, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IBASIL H. SAVAGE, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TWO-SIXTEENTHS `'II'.O

HARRY B. NEWCOMB, FOUR-SIXTEENTHS T0 NORMAN B.` BENNETT, AND` ONE- SIXTEENTH 'Il'.Ov OSCAR F. BOWMAN, ALL 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

VACUUM'. FUEL-FEED APPARATUS.

Application led June 14, 1927. Serial No. 198,704.

This invention relates to improvements in vacuum fuel feed 'apparatus for use in connection with internal combustion motors. The purpose of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this kind in which the fuel replenishing operations are carried on automatically with the fewest possible moving parts. In carrying out the invention, I provide the usual main and auxiliary tanks, the latter having an inlet for the liquid fuel and a suction-controlled outlet, said outlet having a port of relatively large area. Between said port and the auxiliary tank, I provide a venting and mixing chamber having a restricted air passageway leading to the atmosphere, and another restricted passageway leading to the auxiliary tank. I also provide a float valve in the auxiliary tank, having a valve stem which ext-ends into said chamber and has a valve at its upper end adapted to close said port when the float is raised to a given height by the incoming liquid fuel, and to open said port when the float descends. y

In one form of the invention, a small quantity of air constantly flows into the mixing chamber, this air mingling with the vapor drawn from the auxiliary reservoir and passing to the intake of the motor when the float valve is olf its seat, and flowing into the auxiliary reservoir to vent the latter when the float valve is seated. The quantity of air thus admitted does not materially lower the pressure in the auxiliary reservoir while the latter is being exhausted, and as it iningles with the vapors carried to the intake of the motor, the vapors are diluted and make, with the air, a combustible mixture.

In another form of the invention, I provide means for automatically restricting the communicating passageway between the mixing and venting chamber and the auxiliary reservoir during the fuel replenishing operation. and for enlarging this passageway, after said operation, to vent said reservoir. In still another ferm of the invention, I provide means for closing the air passageway and for restricting the vapor passageway leading to the auxiliary reservoir during the fuel replenishing operation. and for opening the air passageway and enlarging the fuel passageway at the completion of said operation.

, In the accompanying drawinv,

Fig. 1 is central section through a vacuum fuel feed apparatus, in which the auxiliary reservoir is in constant communication with t-he atmosphere through restricted passageways leading to an intermediate mixing and venting chamber;

Fig. 2 is a similar view through the upper part of an apparatus in which a suction-,controlled valve varies the inlet from the auxiliary reservoir to the mixing chamber; and,

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that in Fig. 2 of an apparatus in which a suction-operated valve controls the air passageway as Well as the vapor passageway leading to the mixing chamber.

Referring to the drawing, a represents the main reservoir of a vacuum fuel feed system for internal combustion motors, and b re resents the auxiliary reservoir. The main reservoir has anoutlet connection l by which the contents of said reservoir may drain into the carbureter, and it has an air vent 2, at its upper end. The auxiliary reservoir is arranged within the main reservoir and closes the latter, and a cap 3 closes the auxiliary reservoir. The auxiliary reservoir has the usual inletopening 4, adapted for connection by a suitable conduit to the supply tank which, on an automobile, is usually arranged at the back of the vehicle and below the level of the reservoirs. The auxiliary reservoir also has an outlet connection 5, leading to the main reservoir, and provided with a cheek valve 6, which opens by the weightof the liquid to permit fuel to flow from the auxiliary to the main reservoir, and which closes by gravity to prevent the return flow when the auxiliary reservoir is exhausted. W'ithin the auxiliary reservoir is arran ed a float 7, having a tube 7 extending verticall through it, and a valve stem 8 extends throng this tube. The oat is slidably mounted upon the stem, and the latter is provided with collars 9 and l0, spaced to permit a limited movement of the float relatively to the stem.` The valve stom, which is preferably made very Vlight in weight, is slidably mounted in a guide lliat the bottom of the auxiliary `reservoir and in a bushing 12 (Fig. 1),.which is fixed within the suction outlet 13, which outlet is adapted to be connected to the intake of the motor. Within the suction outlet, and spaced from the bushing 12,-is a valve seat 14, having a relatively large port 15. i A valve ireer coinu 8, on the valve stein, is adapted to close the port whenthe stern is raised by the float. The space Within the suction outlet between the Valve seat und bushingl l2 constitutes a Ventand mining chamber c. This chamber, in Fig. 1, is in constant communication with the atmosphere througlfi a small perforation or passageway 16, and it is in constant coinnuinication with the auxiliary reservoir through a restricted ne ageway l? in the bushing and also through the bore 18, in which the 'valve stein is guided, a certain amount olf leakage necessarily taking place through this bore in which the valve stein moves freely.

ln Fig. 2, 'the structure is the saine as in Fig". l exce )t that the bushing 12a is a loose tit. in the suction outlet connection and is norinally supported by a stop 19, connected to the cap-piece Il, aud the restrirted passageway 17, shown in l? l, is om .Jted from Fig. il. In Fig'. 2, when the bushing4 12a rests against the stop, communication between the venting; and mixingl chamber c and the interior of the auxiliary reservoir is established through the restricted annular space 17 between the bushings and the interior u'all ot the outlet connection 13, as Well as through the bore 18 through which the valve stein extends. The restricted air nassageu'ay is constantly open. In this li re ot the drawing, when the valve El is oli its seat and the niotor is in operation, the bushing;- 12", which constitutes a valve, liits by atniosplieri pressure until its annular shoulder 12b rests againstthe cappiece 3, and this shoulder closes the restricted annular passageway 1T, so that the only communication between the venting and mixing chamber and the auxiliary reservoir is through the restricted passageuuiy 18a. lVhen the suction is out oil by the seating ot the faire n, the faire 1&2 drops to its stop and opens the pafrugeu'ay 17, thus allowing rati( i between said chamber and the auxiliary reservoir.

ln. llig. 3, the suction outlet iitting 13 has a cylindrical bore 13" at its lower end, of larger diameter than that in the upper part oi the fitting', and this provides an annular shoulder 13C against which a cylindrical Valve lil@ abuis *when said i/alve is raised. This valve li 'reely within the socket i rule/,fl by the bore id" so that it can be raised by suction 'roin its stop 19 and dropped by gravity when the action ceases. The inner end oit the air q 1ageway 16A terminates at the shoulder 13"-, as shown. dien the valve l2 lifts, it closes this passageway and it also closes the annular passageway 17", and when the valve drops it opens both of these pas sageways.

The operation ot the structure shown in Fig. 1 is as follows: As the main reservoir is constantly Vented through the Vent opening;` 2, the fuel in said reservoir drains through the outlet 1 into the carbureter of the motor, in accordance with the requirements ot the niotor. rllhe auxiliary clu'unber is also in coniinunication with the atmosphere, through the restricted passageway@ 1G andV 17, and the liquid in the latter reservoir seeks the level ot' the liquid in the inain reservoir through the outlet 5. lVhen the inotor starts, assuming the ideatand i 'Valve to he in a lowered position, a partial vacuum created in the auxiliary reservoir and liquid liuel is drawn into said reserroir through the supply inlet 1. A slnall sti-cani of air llows through the restricted air Qassageway 1G into the nui;H ing; and Whiting` ealnnher c, Where it ruin les with the 'vapors drawn through the pf way 17, and passes to the .intake ot the inotor. This sina ll air leakage has no appreciable ellzect upon the lpressure in the auxiliary chau'ilu-fr, where the outlet port 15 is relati we y largev shown in the drawing'. .lhe fuel drawn info the auxiliary reservoir li'l'ts the lioat and its Valve t3 then closes the port 15, stoppiuo the 'turther exhaustion of the auf;- iliary reservoir and the tlow ot liquid into said reservoir. The auxiliary reservoir is then rented by the 'flow oli air through the p: 'ageways 1G aud 1'?, and the liquid iroin said reservoir flows into thc inain reservoir. The drop in the lei/ol oi the liquid in the auxiliary reservoir perniits the lioat to slide dou'n on the valve stein While the latter is held by atmospheric pressure in its upper position with the 1mire f against its seat. llhen the iioat is lowered to a point Where it beurs against the collar 10, the Weight of the float causes the valve stein to drop and open the suction outlet 13. The tilting operation is then automatically repeated, and is contin ned until the float has moved the valve 8'* to its seat. 'lhc vapors drawn from the auxiliary reservoir throiigh the passageway 17" while the latter reservoir is beine,r exhausted are diluted by the air which flows through `the 7passageufay 16, making a combustible nurture, so that these vapors do not unduly enrich the inixture flowing to the inotor from the carburetor. It will be seen that the air troni the constantly' lopen air passageway flows lo the iuotor during,l the lillingr periods und at other tiincs it tlows into the auxiliary recevoir, to 'vent the latter and pcrn'iit the fuel therein to dischargfe into the niain rosen Voir.

ln Figi. the operation is the saine as in Fig. 1, except that the bushing- 12 operates as a vali'e to close the restricted passageway 17 between the clunnher c and the auxiliary reservoir duringl the periods when the float valve is oli its seat and said reservoir is being exhaustedA lWhen the liquid drawn into the auxiliary reservoir nieves the float Valve to its seat, the valve 12a drops, opening the passageway 17a, and the auxiliary reservoir is quickly vented by air flowing through the passageways 16 and 17, thus permitting fuel from the latter reservoir to flow into the main reservoir.

In Fig. 3, the operation is the same as in Fig. 2 except that the valve 12C, when raised, closes the air port 16a as Well as the annular passageway 17". During the periods when the float valve is oit its seat, both of these passageways are open, and the air and vapor drawn into the mixing chamber flow to the motor. Then the liquid drawn into the auxiliary reservoir causes the float t raise and seat the loat valve7 the valve 12 drops and opens the ports 16ak and 17h, and air then flows into the auxiliary reservoir to vent the same.

That I claim is:

1. In a vacuum fuel feed system for internal combustion motors, a. main reservoir liaving an outlet to the carburetor and having an air vent, an auxiliary reservoir having a valve-controlled outlet leading to the main reservoir, said auxiliary reservoir .having a fuel inlet and having a suction outlet provided with al relatively large outlet port and a venting and mixing chamber between said port and the auxiliary reservoir, said chamlser having constantly open restricted passageways leading therefrom to the atmosphere and to the auxiliary reservoir, a float valve in the latter reservoir, a valve stem carried by the float, said stem extending into said chamber and having a valve adapted to close said port when the float is raised.

In avacuum fuel feed system for internal combustion motors, a main reservoir having an outlet to the carbureter and having an air vent, an auxiliary reservoir having a valve-controlled outlet leading to the main reservoir, said auxiliary reservoir having a fuel inlet and havin a suction outlet pr0- vided with a relativey large outlet port and a venting and mixing chamber between said portand the auxiliary reservoir, said Challilier having constantly open restricted passageways leading therefrom to the at1nosphere and to the auxiliary reservoir, a float valve in the latter reservoir, a valve stem carried by the float and movable relatively thereto, said stem having stops for limiting such movement and having a valve Within said chamber adapted to close said port when the fioat is raised.

3. In a vacuum fuel feed system for internal combustion motors, a main reservoir having an outlet to the earbureter and having an air vent, an auxiliary reservoir having a valve-controlled outlet leading to the main reservoir, said auxiliary reservoir having a fuel inlet and having a suction outlet provided With a relatively large outlet port and a venting and mixing chamber between said port and the auxiliary reservoinsaid chamber having a constantly open restricted assageway leading therefrom to the atmosptiere and two restricted passageways leading from said chamber to the auxiliary reservoir, a normally open suction-controlled valve adapted to close one of the latter passageways, a float in the auxiliary reservoir and a valve carried by the Hoat and adapted to close said port when the ioat is raised. v

In testimony whereof I hereunto aix my signature.

BASIL H. SAVAGE. 

